Desk structure



May'3, 1949. w. E. NORDMARK DESK STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 24, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 JMm W May 3, 1949. w. E. NORDMARK DESK STRUCTURE 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed NOV. 24, 1947.

ham-r ziwbmzmavzz y 1949- w. E. NORDMARK 2,469,239

I DESK STRUCTURE I 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed NOV. 24. 1947 Fir/fer Mzdmarli Patented May 3, 1949 signor to Ainerican Seating Company;

.Grand Rapids, Mich; a. corporationof New Jersey Application November-.24, 1947; Seriat No. 37871651 6'Claims. I ((145 -91) The: present invention =.re1ates l-tou desk Stir U: tures and '-:more particularly: to f-such-. structures for:use-inclassroomsanthe-like;-.

The primary objectsoftthiseinvention are. to provider-an. improved:boxstype desk top having: a cover which may -bei manual y lifteciin -the rear too give access-to :the: interior of the desk-top; to ."zprcvide an.improved-mechanism -for= supporte ing the cover When swung to anymf several rearweirdly-upwardly) inclined elevated: positions,- "in m t such a" manner s'thatxthe :cover fmayithenibe low'-' ered' in the rear'so that it assumes-a::rearward1ydownwardlyinclined elevated position forz 0on1:- venient :use as aiwritingedesk:Or -reading desk; to: provide: anzimproved mechanismifor so support ing: the-5130p; irrinclined I elevated; positions; the. mechanism being; such thatnthg covermay. be. loweredto itsnormal horizontal @position wherein it servesas a closure:foimthe open atopflooic of the: desk; by.merelyrliftingxgthe cover in the rear too its =maximum heightz thereby disengaging the. supporting mechanism; and thereafter manually: 1owerin'g;the rear of tthercover; :to provide :such 1 a; mechanism wwhichm is: especiailm quiet. and. smooth in operation; andvimgeneral tov provide: such a desk structure-which isefficient-in operation; reasonably-economical inrmanufacture andi attractive in appearance,

Illustrative embodiments. of the. invention are: shown in the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure. 1-- is-a side elevational view of-hox-typem desk top; the supporting pedestal. for which is shown-.fragmentarilyiand which pedestal maybe; ofsthe-inverted, U-shapedtypenhowm-in the co.- pendingxapplication. identifiediabovewherein the l, desk top..is mountedontheupperwend of one leg of -the U-shaped supportand 'a chain mounted! onthe other leg-,of Isaid 'l sup-port, certain parts vinthis viewbeing shownin vertical'section taken 7 on line I.-I of Figure 3;.and'the-cover for the top, box. tbeingmshownflin normal lhorizontal lposition in/fulliines, and iii-two inclined positions in dotted lines and-lbrokenli'nes respectively;

FigureZ is a rear. .perspective'view'of the topbox with the cover theref'or in rearWar'IiIY-upwardlyinclined position wherein .access may be had to the interior of the box;

Fi'gure 3 is a iragmentaryihorizontal sectional? view thereof taken on line 3" -30f Figure 1;

Figure A i's anenlalrg'ed, .fragmen'ta'ry; vertical; sectional view of certain operating ,parts of the" structure, the section being taken...on line. 4-4 of Figure 7 and the moving parts being shown in positions .formsupporting the covenin its. inclined position shown in dottedilines-in Figured;

Figure-5 is a =viewsimilar toFi'gure .4, the mov.- ingwfparts Ibeingshere shownv in their positions-1dr supporting the. cover: in .its position showm in; broken lines in Figure 1;

Figure 6 iswa view similarrto FiguresA andJfiI. the'imoving; parts being-:here shown in-"positions.v wherein the cover is-raised -to..its maximurmine clined position;-

Figure? 1 isnan: enlarged vertical sectional l'view: ofathe same :taken on lines-1 1 ofliliguresllandfi'; the movinggparts being hereshownein-ltheinnore v mal: positions wherein. the cover: is. lowered tos horizontal position;

Figure :8 -is a fragmentary,- sideielevational iew g shown ipartly in .vertical section hofl a. modifidi formoi therboxl-type desktopyl- Figure 9 is a: perspective-view "of I .thendesbmp; shownin. Figureia;v fand Figure '10 is; anienlangedsiragmentary perspec= tive .-view -oi-t one-ncorner of thee-cover ast-seeno-iii Figure 9.

Referring now in detail to these drawings, and*' first to the form ofl the invention shown in Figures 1-7 inclusive, the box-typedesk top there shownicomprisesfa formed sheefimetal top'b'ox. II'havi'ng;, a bottom1I2," 'front wai1'I3, r.ear='wali*' I4, .side wallswl 5*," and" 'azcontinuous; inwardliy downwardly. curled flange- I5 around the upper-f edges of'said walls! Thetopboxmay be'mounted'i in. an conventional "manner."atop;" a supporting pedestal I Ttherefor.

The cover 'I-8iforthe'top' box is preferably made of wood and is of generally: rectangular" shape?" When in its lowered or'horizontal position shown in; full lines 'in' Fig'ureithe cover -serves'as"arclc surefor the "open top". box I I and also "as" ahorizontal'work' surface; The frontedge'of "thecove'r" I8 is pivotaily" associated with the "upper "front edge ofithe top; box.- I I by"means of .a' flat sheet metal hinge member I9 havingcurledhinge 1301'?- tions 20; Similar" curled 'i hinge" portions- 21 are providedi'ontheforwardlyextending upperfiange 22""0fa metal strip: 23"whose"'1ower portionds" securedas by spot weldinggto-the inner surface" of the front wall I 3 of thetop box. Anelon'gated" hinge pin 24 passes. through the curledhinge portions" 20"of the hinge member I 9 and hinge portions ll of the strip.23, thus pivotallysecur= ing the hingemember tothe'toplbox: THehinge member" I Bis desirablyv strengthene'dvby means of alreinforcingsplate. 2'5 secured-to the "underside: thereof:

The hinge member I9 has brackets ZB 's'ecuredI asnby, spot welding to the underside .ofiits'rean; wardimarginal edge;.,andiat' the opposite sides or? the hinge member. Similar brackets 21 are secured to the underside of the cover l8 intermediate its front and rear edges and at opposite sides of said cover as by means of wood screws 28.

Pintles 29 pass through aligned openings in the adjacent pairs of brackets 26, 21, and also through openings in rawhide friction Washers 30 and depending links 3| interposed between the brackets of each pair. The hinge member 9 and cover I8 are thus pivotally connected, and it will be seen that these parts may be swun in unison about the horizontal axis of the hinge pin 24 to rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions wherein access may be had to the interior of the top box, as best illustrated in Figure 2.

When the cover |8 is swung to a rearwardlyupwardly inclined position as above described the links 3| are also elevated, and means are provided for supporting these links 3| in elevated postions so that the links form a pivotal support about which the top may be swung to rearwardly-downwardly inclined postion for writing or reading. These supporting means comprise housing 32 secured to the opposite inner side walls I of the top box as by rivets 33, toothed ratchet wheels 34 rotatably mounted in the housings 32 by means of pivot pins 35, and pawls 36 mounted in the housings 32 by means of pivot pins 31. The ratchet wheels 34 have arms 38 to the outer ends of which are secured the lower ends of links 3| as by means of pivot pins 39, the links 3| thus having eccentric pivotal connections to the ratchet wheels 34. Coiled tension springs 49 normally urged the pawls 36 toward the ratchet wheels 34. Friction washers 4| are preferably interposed between the arms 38 of ratchet wheels 34 and the links 3|, and similar friction washers 42 are interposed between the ratchet wheels 34 and the housings 32, all for cushioning the interrelative movements of these parts.

Operation When it is desired only to gain access to the interior of the top box, the cover is raised at its rearward edge to a rearwardly-upwardly inclined position as shown in Figure 2. If the cover is thus tilted far enough, each of the pawls 35 on the opposite sides of the top box engages behind a tooth 43 or 44 of its adjacent ratchet wheel 34 (see Figures 4 and 5) thus supporting the links 3| in selected elevated position. The cover will remain in said rearwardly-upwardly inclined position by reason of the frictional engagement of the rawhide washers 30 between the brackets 21 and links 3|. However, if it is desired to utilize the desk top for reading or writing, the cover is manually lowered at its rearward edge to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined position as shown in dotted lines, or as shown in broken lines, in Figure 1. Rubber insets 45 in the cover I 8 silence the contact of the cover with the rear wall M of the top box which rear wall |4 supports the rearward edge of the cover when it is thus adjusted for reading or writing. A book support 46 is desirably provided at the rear edge of the cover l8.

During raising movement of the rearward edge of the cover |8, the pawls 36 continuously point in a forwardly direction (to the left as viewed in Figures 4 and 5) so that they are in position to engage the teeth 43 or 44 of the ratchet wheels 34.

When it is desired to return the cover l8 to its normal horizontal position, the cover is lifted at its rearward edge as far as it will go whereupon the pawls 36, being urged at all times toward the ratchet wheels 34, fall into voids 41 in the ratchet wheels 34. The cover may then be lowered to horizontal position, during which movement the angle of the pawls 36 is reversed so that they point in a rearwardly direction and thus ride freely over the teeth 44 and 43 of the ratchet wheels 34. When the cover l8 has reached its fully lowered horizontal position, the pawls 36 fall into other voids 48 in the ratchet wheels 34, so that when the cover is again raised the pawls will again point forwardly and thus be in position to engage the teeth 43 and 44 of the ratchet wheels 34.

As here shown, the ratchet wheels 34 have two teeth each, 43 and 44, which provide for rearward-downward adjustment of the top in the two positions indicated in dotted lines and in broken lines in Figure 1. These positions are 10 degree inclination for Writing, and degree inclination for reading, it having been determined that these positions are ideal for the purposes intended. Obviously, however the ratchet wheels 34 might be provided with only one tooth each for one position of rearward-downward inclination, of the cover H3 or with many teeth each toprovide many positions of rearward-downward inclination of the cover |8,

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 8-10 the hinge member l9 of the former disclosure has been omitted. As shown in Figures 8-10 the pivotal association of the front edge of the cover with the upper front edge of the top box, is accomplished by means of spring clips 49 attached as by wood screws 50 to the underside of the front marginal edge of the cover 5|. These spring clips 49 pivotally engage the curled upper front edge 52 of the top box 53 during movement of the cover 5| from its horizontal position to a rearwardly-upwardly inclined position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8. The cover 5| is supported in such rearwardly-upwardly inclined position by means of pivotally connected links 54 having their lower ends connected to ratchet and pawl supporting mechanism identical to that previously described. When the cover 5| is manually swung downwardly at its rearward edge, the spring clips 49 disengage from the curled upper front edge of the top box to permit such movement of the cover to a position for reading or writing, in which position the cover is maintained by frictional engagement of the rubber insets 45 with the curled upper rearward edge of. the top box, said rubber insets 45 thus serving as frictional stop means for preventing forward or rearward movements, and

consequent lowering movement, of the cover.

When the cover is thereafter lowered to its horizontal position, the spring clips 49 againengage the curled upper front edge of the top box.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a simple, quiet and efficient mechanism whereby a box-type desk top may be provided with a cover which is conveniently adjustable to facilitate reading and writing, and while but several specific embodiments of the invention have been herein shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to ,or by details of the constructions shown and that the invention includes all other means for attaining the specific objects which may fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a desk structure of the character, described: an upwardly open'top 'box and a cover enlistees therefor; means for mounting the' cover on the top box'whereby "the front edge of the cover is pivotally associated with theupper front edge of the 'top 'box to permit swinging -movement of the cover to a rearwardly-upwardly inclined elevated position? means for pivotally supporting the cover intermediate its front and rear edges when elevated as aforesaid, said last-mentioned means icomprising=a to'othed wheel rotatably mounted on the top box, a link pivotally connected to the covenintermediate itslfront and rear edges and having an eccentric pivotal connection with the 'toothed wheel, and a 'pawl reciprocally mounted on' the topbox =.and adapted to eng-age behind a tooth ot-the-wheel to restrain :the' wheel against rotating. movementina di'rection'forlowering the 'cover; said front edge of the cover being dissociable from the upper front edge of the top box to permit swinging movement of the cover about its pivotal connection to said link to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; stop means preventing forward or rearward and consequent lowering movements of the cover when in said rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; and means for disengaging the pawl from said tooth to permit lowering movement of the cover.

2. In a desk structure of the character described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; means for mounting the cover on the top box whereby the front edge of the cover is pivotally associated with the upper front edge of the top box to permit swinging movement of the cover to selected rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions; means for pivotally supporting the cover intermediate its front and rear edges when elevated as aforesaid to a selected position, said last-mentioned means comprising a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on the top box, a link pivotally connected to the cover intermediate its front and rear edges and having an eccentric pivotal connection with the ratchet wheel, and a pawl reciprocally mounted on the top box and adapted to engage behind a tooth of the ratchet wheel to restrain the wheel against rotating movement in a direction for lowering the cover; said front edge of the cover being diss'ociable from the upper front edge of the top box to permit swinging movement of the cover about its pivotal connection to said link to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; stop means preventing forward or rearward and consequent lowering movements of the cover when in said rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; and means for disengaging the pawl from said tooth to permit lowering movement of the cover.

3. In a desk structure of the character described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; means for mounting the cover on the top box whereby the front edge of the cover is pivotally associated with the upper front edge of the top box to permit swinging movement of the cover to selected rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions; means for pivotally supporting the cover inntermediate its front and rear edges when elevated as aforesaid to a selected position, said last-mentioned means comprising ratchet wheels rotatably mounted on the opposite inner sides respectively of the top box, links pivotally connected to the cover at opposite sides thereof and intermediate the covers front and rear edges, said links having eccentric pivotal connections with said ratchet wheels respectively, and pawls reciprocally mounted adjacent the opposite inner sides of the top box and adapted to engage behind corresponding teeth-of' the ratchetwheels' respec tively to restrainthe I wheels against rotating movement in a directionfor' lowering the cover; said" front edge of the cover being dissociable from the upperfront edge of 'the-topbox toperniit swinging movement ofthe cover aboutits pivotal connections to said li'nks to a -rearwardly-downwardly inclinedelevated position; stop means preventingforwardorrearward and consequent loweringmovem'ents of the 'cover when in said rearwa'rdly-downwardly inclind elevated position; and means fordis'engaging the pawls from said ratchet Wheels to permit 1 lowering movement of the cover.

4. In a desk structurepf thecla'ss described: anup'wardly open top box and acover therefor; a hinge member-having-itsforward end mounted atthe front of the top "b'ox'swingably about a horizontal axis and having its rearward end connected to the cover intermediate the latters front and rear edges swingably about a second horizontal axis, said hinge member and cover being swingable in unison about the first-mentioned axis to a rearwardly-upwardly inclined elevated position; means for supporting the cover at the second-mentioned axis when elevated as aforesaid, said means comprising a toothed wheel rotatably mounted on the top box, a link pivotally connected to the cover and the hinge member at said second-mentioned axis and having an eccentric pivotal connection with the toothed wheel, and a pawl reciprocally mounted on the top box and adapted to engage behind a tooth of the wheel to restrain the wheel against rotating movement in a direction for lowering the cover, said cover being then swingable about the second-mentioned axis to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated postion; and means for disengaging the pawl from said tooth to permit lowering movement of the cover.

5. In a desk structure of the class described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; a hinge member having its forward end mounted at the front of the top box swingably about a horizontal axis and having its rearward end connected to the cover intermediate the latters front and rear edges swingably about a second horizontal axis, said hinge member and a cover being swingable in unison about the first-mentioned axis to selected rearwardly-upwardly inclined elevated positions; means for supporting the cover at the second-mentioned axis when elevated as aforesaid to a selected postion, said means comprising a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on the top box, a link pivotally connected to the cover and the hinge member at said second-mentioned axis and having an eccentric pivotal connection with the ratchet, and a pawl reciprocally mounted on the top box and adapted to engage behind a tooth of the ratchet wheel to restrain the wheel against rotating movement in a direction for lowering the cover, said cover being then swingable about the second-mentioned axis to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; and means for disengaging the pawl from said tooth to permit lowering movement of the cover.

6. In a desk structure of the class described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; a hinge member having its forward end mounted at the front of the top box swingably about a horizontal axis and having its rearward end connected to the cover intermediate the latters front and rear edges swingably about a second horizontal axis, said hinge member and cover being swingable in unison aboutthe first-mentioned axis to selected rearwardly-upwardly inclined levated postions; means for supporting the cover at the second-mentioned axis when elevated as aforesaid to a selected position, said means comprising ratchet wheels rotatably mounted on the inner opposite sides respectively of the top box, links pivotally connected to the cover and the hinge member at the second-mentioned axis and at the opposite sides respectively thereof, said links having eccentric pivotal connections with said ratchet wheels respectively, and pawls reciprocally mounted adjacent the opposite inner sides of the top box and adapted to engage behind corresponding teeth of the ratchet wheels respectively to restrain the wheels against rotating movement in a direction for lowering the cover, said cover being then swingable REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 399,272 Lippincott Mar. 12, 1889 1,840,274 Merrill Jan. 5, 1932 1,920,452 Wagner- Aug. 1, 1933 2,001,507 Stribling May 14, 1935 

